Tobacco curing barn



R. E. MAYO TOBACCO CURING BARN Sept. 7,1954

' 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Oct. 10, 1950 INVENTOR. #5057 E. M/ryo,

Sept. 7, 1954 R E MAYO 2,688,476

TOBACCO CURING BARN Filed 0O"). 10, 1950 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 I N VEN TOR.

Ffi'UB/N .E. M/IYO,

Patented Sept. 7

UNITED STATES ATENT OFFICE 'IOBACCO CURING Reubin E. Mayo, Farmville, N.0'.-

Application October I0, 1950, Serial No. 189,350

3 Claims. 1

The present invention relates to drying houses for treating vegetablematter and more specif-- ically pertains to the structure of a barn forouring tobacco wherein heat is supplied to the interior of the structureandthe building is so constructed as to. utilize radiant energy forsupple menting the heat within the building. This application relates toa drying house which represents improvements over my copend'ing application, Serial Number 673,591, filed May 31, 194 6 now Patent No.2,529,621;

One of the objects of the present inventibn isto provide a buildingstructure within which green leaf tobacco may be stored and the buildingis so constructed that radiant energy from the sun is utilized topreheat the incoming air which is employed in association with opentypeburners toreduce the amount of fuel requiredforproviding a given amountof heat within the building for curing tobacco.

Another object of the invention resides in forming at least onesidewallof thed'rying house so as to be transparent for admitting radiant energyfrom" the sun and the invention includes the provision of a heatabsorbing surface in back of and spaced from the transparent walltoprovide a passage throughwhich outside air is guided into thebarnwhereby the incoming air is pr'e-- heated prior to moving into thepresence of the burners or into the presence of the tobacco being curedwithin the building.

A more detailed object of the invention resides in providing meanswithin the building for sup porting tobacco therein wherein apart of theracl;

structure isformed of tubular members which-- are in open communicationwith the preheating mingle with the products of combustion andthereafter rise and circulate through the building in which the-tobaccois being cured;

Other objects and features of the invention will be more apparent tothose skilled in the art of curing-tobacco as" the present disclosureroceeds and upon consideration. of the following detailed descriptiontaken in connection with the 2 accompanying drawings wherein anexemplary embodiment of the building is disclosed along with a pluralityof arrangements for control-ling the escape gases or air from the dryinghouse.

In the drawings:

Fig. l is a perspective View of a building exhibiting the inventioniFig. 2 is a sectional view taken on the line OfFig. 1 and 2=-2 Of F ig.3.

3 is a sectional view taken on the line 33 of Fig, 2 and on the line 3-3of Fig. 1.

Fig. 4- is a horizontal sectional view taken on the line '1 3 of Fig. 1'and 4-4-Of Fig. 2.

Fig. 5 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional viewof a portion of thebuilding along the south wall} and adjacent the associated row ofburners.

Fig. 6 is" afragmentary sectional View taken on the line fi -tof Fig; 5.i

Fig. 7 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional View of a port-1m of thestructure showing amod'ified damper control for venting the barn.

Fig. 8 is-a fragmentary sectional view taken on the line 8+8- of Fig. 2.

Referring to the drawings there is shown at ID a base for the buildingwhich may take any suitable form and in the embodiment illustrated adouble wallstructure with an outer panel M formed of some transparentmaterial, such as glass. The inner panelor partition it may be formedofsuitable material, such as corrugated metal with the undulationsextending in a vertical directionas will be apparent upon aconsideration of Figs. 2 and 4. The surface it of the corrugated panelis preferably black or coated- With some blacksubst'anc'eso as toincrease the ability of this partition wall to absorb radiantenergy'from' thesuri. fhe radiant energy waves pass through thetransparent panel M and are absorbed by'th'e'blackwallpanel It. Thecorrugations increase the surface area of the panel IT. A passage 39isp'rov'ided between the panels l4 and IS.

The north Wall of the building is represented generally at 19; This wallmay be formed of a plurality of'rem'ovable' doors Zil'as shown in Figs.1 and 4. These'doors are for the purpose of openingv aside of thebuilding to permit the tobacco to be moved into the barn. The north wallas may be otherwise constructed in therorm of a permanent wall structureand provided with at least one access openin and a door therefor. Whenthis wall structure is formed of a plurality of doors 20, a series ofvertical posts or supports are employed as indicated at 2|. Theseuprights 2| may be arranged in any desirable spacing so as to providesupport for the tiers or racks which extend through the barn forsupporting the tobacco. The north Wall 19 may be formed of opaquematerial and is not relied on as means for receiving or storing radiantenergy from the sun.

The west wall 24 of the building may also be of a double panelconstruction as shown in Fig. 3. The outer panel 25 may be formed of anysuitable material and may be transparent. The inner partition 26 may beprovided with a black surface 21. A passage 30 is provided between thepanels 25 and 26 and the space is in open communication with the passage39 as indicatedat 34 in Fig. 4. The east wall 28 may be similarlyconstructed and provided with an outer panel 28 which may also be formedof transparent material so as to admit radiant energy from the sun. Theinner panel 3| for the east wall may be formed of any suitable materialor coated with a black substance for absorbing heat. This surface isindicated at 32. A passage 35 is provided between the panels 29 and 3|which is in open communication with the space 39 as shown in Fig. 4.

The top of the buildin is closed by means of a roof which mayadvantageously be substantially flat as shown at 36. The roof is of adouble panel construction provided with the top roof section 31 and thelower roof panel 38. The upper surface of the roof is formed of someblack metal or coated with a black material so as to more eflicientlyabsorb the radiant energy from the sun.

A space 43 is provided between the roof sections 31 and 38 and thisspace is in open communication with the space 39 between panels of thesouth wall I2 and the space 43 is also in communication with the passage30. The invention includes means for directing outside air into thespace 43 and such means may take the form of a double cone assembly asshown at 4| in Figs. 1 and 3. The outside air is collected in the doublecone structure as it moves in one or more directions and the outside airis guided by a tube 42 into the space 43 between the to roof section 31and the roof section 38. A similar double cone structure 44 may beprovided at the other side of the building for directing air through atube 46 to a space 41 between the two roof sections at the other side ofthe building. This space 4! is in open communication with the passage 39in the south wall and the space 41 is also in open communication withthe space 35 provided within the east wall 28.

A vent structure for the building is shown generally at which extendsacross the top of the building. A slot 52 is provided in the roofthrough which the products of combustion and air may escape from thetobacco curing chamber within the barn. The vent structure includes sidewalls 54- and 56 which are so constructed as to close the space betweenthe top roof section 3'! and the lower roof section 38. A ridge typeroof 58 is provided for covering the slot 52 to prevent rain or the likefrom passing into the building and the roof 58 is supported on the sidewalls 54 and 5B. Openings 6| and 62 are provided under the roof 58 forthe escape of gases and air passing upwardly through the slot 52.

A main floor for the building is shown at 64 which is supported in anysuitable manner (not shown) on the foundation wall II]. An elongatedslot or aperture 66 is provided in the floor '64 which extendssubstantially from the east wall to the west wall as will be apparentfrom a consideration of Fig. 4. A sub-floor 61 is provided under themain floor 64 which provides a space 68 therebetween as shown in Figs. 2and 3.

The building is provided with means for storing tobacco therein and suchsupporting means may take the form of hollow tubes H which extend fromthe south wall [2 to the north wall 19 and provide a tier arrangementfor supporting hands or sticks of tobacco. The tubes 1| may be supportedat one end by the studs or uprights 2| and the other ends of the pipesor tubes ll may be secured to the wall panel [6. The ends of the tubesor pipes 1| adjacent the south wall 12 are in open communication withthe passage 39 as shown in Fig. 5. A series of orifices 0r apertures 12may be provided in the pipes or tubes 12. Thus the incoming air whichpasses downwardly in the space 39 as indicated by the arrows in Fig. 2may enter the ends of all of the tubes H which provide the racks for thetobacco so that this preheated incoming air may circulate through thetobacco barn and promote movement of air in the presence of the tobaccobeing cured.

The invention includes means for supplying artificial heat to theinterior of the barn and any suitable type of heating means may beemployed in combination with the arrangement for preheating the incomingair. In the embodiment illustrated a row of burners 16 is arrangedlengthwise along the south wall 12 as shown in Fig. 2. These burners maybe of the open flame type and are preferably arranged in a recess 11provided in the foundation wall [0. A pipe 18 is provided for supplyingfuel to the rows of burners 16. forms a continuation of the panel isprovides means for guiding the incoming air passing downwardly throughthe space 39 around the lower end of the partition 79 and upwardly alonganother panel section 8| so that the incoming air moves into thepresence of the burners 16. A slot 10 is provided in the floor section68 to permit heat from the burners 16 to move into the space 68. Thepreheated incoming air is intermingled with the heated air or theproducts of combustion provided by the heaters 16.

A similar row of heaters 83 are provided along the north wall l9 andthese burners may be mounted in a recess 84 of the foundation wall 10.These burners 83 may be of the open flame type. A panel section 86 isprovided along the north wall and may be flush therewith as shown inFigs. 1 and 2. An elongated slot 81 is provided along the lower end ofthe panel section 86 so that air may enter this slot to move in thedirection of the arrow 88 shown in Fig. 2. A short panel section 89 isprovided within this portion of the building to guide the air enteringthe slot 81 into the presence of the heaters 83 or into the presence ofthe products of combustion arising therefrom. A slot is provided in thefloor 61 over the burners 83. It will be noted that the space-68provided between the main floor and the sub-floor 61 provides a conduitfor guiding air or products of combustion from the south and north wallsareas towards the center of the barn for rising through the slot 66. Animportant feature of the invention relates to the control of It will beobserved that a partition 19- the escape of air and the products ofcombustion.

from the interior of the building. It is desirable during the earlycuring phase to permit as much moisture as possible to escape from thetobacco and from. the barn. It is alsoadvantageous to restrict theescape of moisture from the presence of tobacco as the curing processprogresses. The damper arrangement shown in Fig. 3 pro- Vides means formaintaining such conditions. The ventilating slot 92 is provided with adamper 9i which is mounted for turning movement about a horizontal pivot92. The damper is biased towards a closed position by means of a spring93. The spring 93 may be of a tension type and is preferably one whichmay be adjusted to control the force applied to the damper 9|. Theopposite end of the damper 9| is provided with means in the form of ahook 96 for suspending a predetermined weight or quantity of tobacco 94thereon as illustrated in Fig. 3.

In carrying out a curing operation a quantity of green tobacco like thatto be cured and having a high moisture content is suspended on the hook99 and this tobacco is of sufficient weight to bias the damper 9| to anopen position. As the curing process proceeds the green tobacco storedin the barn and supported on the rack tubes II will give oil arelatively large amount of moisture in vapor form. The damper 9! is thenopen to permit the rapid escape of this moisture through the openings 8iand 62. Moisture will also be released from the tobacco 94 suspended onthe hook 96 so that this fixed quantity of tobacco will become lighterin weight. Thus as the curing process advances and when it is desired toprevent the rapid escape of moisture from the barn during the laterstages of the curing process, the spring 93 will progressively move thedamper 9| towards a closed position and in proportion to the quantity ofmoisture that remains in the tobacco being treated within the barn.

In operation of the barn and when it is desired to cure a batch oftobacco one or more of the doors 20 forming the north wall l9 areremoved and the hands or sticks of tobacco are suspended from the racktubes '1 I. After the north wall has been closed and when a cluster ofgreen tobacco has been suspended from the hook 96 the curing operationmay be initiated. In the event that there is sufiicient sunlight thecuring operation may be started without the necessity of operating theburners 19 and 83. The air entering the roof structure through thescooping devices 4| and 44 will be preheated by radiant energy withinthe spaces 43 and 61. This air will pass downwardly in the space 39 andwill be further heated by the radiant energy passing through thetransparent panel l4 and stored by the surface H. The morning sun willalso preheat the air in the space 35 between the two panels of the eastwall 28. In the afternoon the air in the space 39 between the two panelsof the west wall 24 will be heated by radiant energy. This preheated airwill then pass through the space 68 in the floor structure and escapethrough the slot 66 and move in the presence of the tobacco. During thisstage of operation it may be undesirable to permit air to enter the slot8'! and a damper 98 may be closed to prevent air from entering thebuilding through this slot along the north wall [9.

During the early curing stage the vent slot 52 will remain open aspreviously described to permit the rapid escape of moisture from tobaccoin the building. In the event that additional heat is required for anystage of the curing operation the burners l6 and 83 may be set inoperation.- The incoming preheated air passing downwardly through thespace 39 will then move in the presence of the heaters 19' and if theyare of the open flame type the heated air will mingle with the productsof combustion and rise through the tobacco barn. The damper 98 may beopened so that the air entering the slot 91 will also pass intothepresence of the heaters 83 and if they are of the open flame type minglewith the products of combustion and rise into the curing. chamberthrough the slot 66. The incoming preheated air will also enter thetubes H and. escape through the apertures '52 to further promotecirculation through the barn. As the curing operation proceeds the ventslot 52 will be progressively closed. in accordance with the dehydrationof the tobacco in the barn and inv re sponse to the decreased weight ofthe cluster of tobacco plants carried by the hook 96.

A modified damper control is shown in Fig. I. In this embodiment twodamper blades 59! and I02. are mounted for swinging movement about theaxis of a horizontal pivot !93. A temperature responsive device in theform of a bellows I04 is provided connecting the adjacent ends of thedamper blades ml and I92. As the temperature within the buildingincreases the bellows I94 expands and thereby moves the dampers towardpositions closing the venting slot 52. As the temperature falls withinthe building the bellows I94 contracts and moves the dampers towards theopen position. A tension spring I99 may be provided for supplementingthe action of the bellows H14 in returning the damper blades to the openpositions.

While the invention has been described with reference to specificstructural features and with regard to a building structure to aparticular type it will be understood that changesmay be made in thedetails as well as the general organization. Such modifications andothers may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of theinvention as set forth in the appended claims.

What I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. In a building structure for curing tobacco, an upper metal roofsection, a lower roof section spaced from the upper roof section, meansfor collecting and guiding outside air into the space between the roofsections, side walls, tWo spaced panels forming the south side wall withthe space therebetween in communication with the space between the roofsections, a floor and a subfioor spaced below the floor to provide aspace between, means guiding air from the space between the panels tothe space between the floor and sub-floor, said floor having anelongated aperture therein through which the air may rise into theinterior of the building, a north wall having a slot therethrough alonga lower portion in open communication with the space between the floorand sub-floor, and a row of burners along the north wall supplying heatto the air entering through said slot.

2. In a building structure for curing tobacco, an upper metal roofsection, a lower roof section spaced from the upper roof section, meansfor collecting and guiding outside air into the space between the roofsections, side walls, two spaced panels forming the south side wall withthe space therebetween in communication with the space between the roofsections, a floor and a subfioor spaced below the floor to provide aspace 7 between, means guiding air from the space between the panels tothe space between the floor and sub-floor, said floor having anelongated aperture therein through which the air may rise into theinterior of the building, a north wall having a slot therethrough alonga lower portion in open communication with the space between the floorand sub-floor, a row of burners along the north wall supplying heat tothe air entering through said slot, and means for adjusting theeifective area of said slot.

3. In a building structure for curing tobacco, an upper roof section, alower roof section spaced from the upper roof section, a double conestructure for collecting outside air including means for guiding saidair into the space between the roof sections, side walls, two spacedpanels forming one of said side walls with the space therebetween inopen communication with the space between the roof sections, a floor, asub-floor positioned below said floor to provide a space therebetween inopen communication with the space between said panels so that air maymove into the space between the floor and the subfloor, said floorhaving an elongated aperture therein extending from one side wall to anopposite side wall with its longitudinal axis disposed parallel to saidpanels, the side wall opposite said panels having a slot therein foradmitting air to the space between the flOOr and sub-floor for escapethrough said elongated aperture, means for supplying heat to the air asit enters through said slot, and means for supplying heat to the airentering the space between the floor and subfloor as it leaves the spacebetween said panels.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS NumberName Date 430,762 Taylor June 24, 1890 1,583,376 Welch May 4, 19261,593,890 Welch July 27, 1926 2,185,760 Altenkirch Jan. 2, 19402,472,534 Home June 7, 1949 2,529,621 Mayo Nov. 14, 1950

